A 28-year-old man currently in custody for the murder of Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe has been charged with preparation of terrorist acts, including a plot to attack party leader Nigel Farage.
Joshua Kerry, of Rotherham, faces one count of preparation of terrorist acts under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. According to charging documents, the alleged conduct occurred between May 31, 2024, and July 8, 2026. The escalation to terrorism charges follows a complex investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing into the suspect’s activities and digital history.
The charges specifically link Kerry to a planned attack against Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK. In light of the new evidence, investigators have also reopened a probe into a separate incident from early 2025 involving an incendiary device pushed through the letterbox of Farage’s London residence. While initial inquiries into that arson attempt were inconclusive, officials are now reviewing potential connections to the current case.
Kerry was previously identified as the primary suspect in the death of Ann Widdecombe, a former minister and high-profile Reform UK figure. Widdecombe was found dead on July 9, 2026, at her home in Haytor, Devon. A post-mortem examination revealed she had suffered 21 hammer blows to the head; her body was discovered by her gardener the morning after the attack.
Investigators are now focused on potential political motivations, including digital forensic evidence suggesting an interest in extremist ideologies. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans noted the “significant complexity” involved in the digital forensic investigation, which spanned several years of the suspect’s online activity.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the new charges as “extremely concerning” and characterized the alleged plot as an “attack on us all.”
The investigation has also raised questions regarding how the suspect, residing in South Yorkshire, identified the location of Widdecombe’s isolated Devon home.
Kerry is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on October 7, 2026, to face the terrorism charge alongside the existing murder allegations. He remains in high-security custody pending the hearing.
